Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-05-18
OPINIONS OF DAKorAlANs.

Ex-Governor Edmunds and EX-Chief
Justice Edserton Talk about the Ter
ritory.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: Hon. Newton
Edmunds, governor of the territory
from 1863 to 1866, who has continued to
reside in the territory, writes as follows:
II beg to say that, haying been q
resident OF Dakota for the. past twenty.
Blk years, and being reasonably well
acquainted with the states and terfItor-
les of the west and northwest, | am fully
prepared to say that no state or terri
tory presents equal facilities with ua-
kota for Investment for profit; where
real property more rapidly appreciates
in value. or where improvements are
more rapidly and cheaply made, South
ern Dakota possesses q climate and snil
fully equal to central Illinois for
diversified agriculture. The soil is
deep, rich, Warm and productive, and is
we'll covered with q heavy growth OF
sweet and nutritious grasses, on which
stock fattens with great rspIdity and at
very slight cost. Central Dakota has q
climate and soil fully equal to northern
illinois, and successfully produces all
the varieties OF crops that are grown IN
the northern portion of that state. Nor.
thern Dakota is similar in climate and
has soil far superior to southern Wis
consln and central Minnesota, and sur.
passes them In the agricultural produc-
tions peculiar to those states. Dakota
is unsurpassed in heaithfulness of
climate by any sections of the north
western states and territories
Ey- 0hraf .Jndna EHparfnn rurit.c oo
follows:
know of no state or territory which
off ers 30 many inducements for settle
ment to the industrious poor man as
Dakota, This territory, according to
the United States census, ranks among
the first foar states of the union in the
intelligence of its inhabitants. The
efforts the people have made here to ed
ucate the young is q marvel. Without
any aid from public grants we have a
complete system of free schools in
successful operation. Our climate is
Mlnnesota, in the winter somewhat
rigorous, but at all seasons healthy.
Our soil is a rich loan, very quick and
very fertile. While wheat may be said
to be the great staple of this territory,
yCs > 5ouph A/hhOtn CuiA 10 pEUuuGSU
easily and is . reasonably sure crop. ]
believe that portions of Ben Homme
yankton, Clay and Uhion counties will
produce as much corn per acre
as the most favored districts OF Indiana
| saw two years ago, on Mr.. Pearson's
farm, TWO miles from Yankton. o field Of
200 acres of corn which yielded thai
year 95 bushels per acre. and a field o.
$50 acres of oats which yield 80 bushels
per acre. While perhaps exceIled by
the Red river valley in the yield O.
wheat, and the lower Missouri in the
yield of corn, no country renders in the
aggregate surer and more ample returns
to the hushandman than this portion O
Dakota Of those great staples which
conduee to prosperity. For diversified
husbandry central Dakota is unrivaled
A commonwealth with such a peopI,
and such a climate and soil must forc,
ample recognition OF an early day not
~withstanding the present attitude o
congress, the result of either stupidity
partisanskip or disloyalty.